The overlooked role of discourse in breaking carbon lock‐in: The case of the German energy transition

Abstract

Over the last 15 years, research on carbon lock-in has investigated why decarbonization evolves so slowly in Western industrialized countries. In this paper, we argue that the role of discourses has been overlooked in the literature on carbon lock-in. We argue that discourses are both part of lock-in mechanisms and, using the concept of discursive turning points, important factors in explaining change. This implies that we need to carefully investigate the dominant discourses that constitute and justify the very technologies, institutions and behaviors of the status quo. For the case of the German energy transition, we demonstrate the importance of discursive turning points for overcoming carbon lock-in, based on a literature review. Germany's long-standing lock-in of fossil fuels and nuclear power was undermined by the rise of the energy transition discourse. This discourse transitioned from a very marginal position to dominance through a number of factors, winning against the energy mix discourse. Over time the energy transition discourse became de-radicalized. Coal has been able to defend its role in the German energy mix in the name of affordability and energy security. While renewables continue to grow, this happens alongside a remaining carbon lock-in. We conclude that discursive lock-in and discursive turning points are useful analytical tools that help to explain how the transition to renewable energies unfolds. In future research, the interaction between discursive lock-ins and other types of lock-in should be investigated.

Coexistence of Cooperative Models as Structural Answer to Lock-Ins in Diversification Pathways: The Case of the Walloon Dairy Sector

“…Agency, or the capacity to (inter)act, is multidimensional and can be approached through various theoretical lenses (Geels, 2020). Many authors, within and beyond agricultural studies, hence mobilized the Multi-level Perspective in combination with a series of theoretical approaches: discourse analysis (Rauschmayer et al, 2015;Upham et al, 2015;Rosenbloom et al, 2016;Buschmann and Oels, 2019); social practice theory (Hargreaves et al, 2013b); network studies (Grin et al, 2011;Elzen et al, 2012b;Diaz et al, 2013;Darrot et al, 2015;Ingram et al, 2015;Bui et al, 2016); institutional approaches (Fuenfschilling and Truffer, 2014;Smink et al, 2015;Geels et al, 2016); convention economics (Dumont et al, 2020); strategic management (Elzen et al, 2012a;Marsden, 2013;Berggren et al, 2015).…”

“…The combination of the Multi-Level Perspective with other theoretical frames has been theoretically discussed (Hargreaves et al, 2013b;Fuenfschilling and Truffer, 2014;Pesch, 2015;Rauschmayer et al, 2015;Geels, 2020) as a way to consider how interacting agents coevolve with shifting meanings and institutions in transition pathways. These combinations allow to refine the comprehension of the lock-ins hindering agency in a stabilized regime, and interactions between agents toward patterns of coexistence (Plumecocq et al, 2018;Buschmann and Oels, 2019;Malone and Gomez, 2019). Although some authors state that the Multi-Level Perspective alone falls short of conceptual tools to approach the interactions between agents as drivers of change (McMeekin and Southerton, 2012;Whitmarsh, 2012;Diaz et al, 2013;Hargreaves et al, 2013a;Hassink et al, 2013;Pesch, 2015;de Haan and Rotmans, 2018).…”

Topic Modeling Uncovers Shifts in Media Framing of the German Renewable Energy Act

“…From the scientific literature on the German energy transition policy, 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 we emphasize some conclusions important for our findings: researchers agree that the German energy regime has shifted from a fossil-dominated system toward a renewable system. 11 , 20 , 21 This shift has mostly been incremental, based on small policy steps rather than a radical shift in policy, 22 , 23 but the nuclear phase-out in 2011 represents a landmark. 11 Over time, the political discourse has de-radicalized and shifted to mainstream economical thinking, 16 and different cost narratives have accompanied the implementation of the EEG.…”

Structural Changes to Nuclear Energy Industries and the Economic Effects Resulting from Energy Transition Policies in South Korea

“…In particular, Seto, et al [32] pointed out that existing infrastructure, such as roads and power plants, which last for decades, lead to significant greenhouse gas emissions. Institutions also sustain these so-called locked-in effects [33]. Unless these locked-in effects are untangled effectively, the shift to a safe and environmentally friendly energy system can be delayed.…”